Thetownend.com

Having seen quite a few comments about Chelsea being whats wrong with football I thought Id start a little thread about whats wrong with football.  Personally I look at football and see a pretty fucked world. 

Overspending clubs, overpaid players, bollocks organisations running it, racism, homophobia, imbecilic fans etc etc etc.

Latest thing to annoy me is seeing some comments from people I know along the lines of 'Haha Steven Gerrard, 600 games for the same club and you've still not won the premier league'.  Surely a players loyalty to one club should be celebrated not derided?

Anyway, feel free to discuss whats wrong with football.

foul throws are very rarely given

people who try to place the ball over the line on a corner, will that extra 2 cm really make a difference..

Sky sports money

Franchise.

The cost of match days for supporters.

Diving increasing throughout  the game

Blatter.

And goalkeepers who kick the ball from hand when they may be ever so slightly over the line.  Ineveitably it goes straight through to the other keeper anyway.

Lee Hughes
Marlon King
Terrell Forbes
Ched Evans
Steve Evans
Joey Barton
The list is endless of scumbags who still get employed by opportunistic football clubs who think of nothing but money. Its no wonder that football is looked on so cynically.Even our club can't wait to bring out FA cup shirts and outsource ticket sales with rip-off booking charges

You are. All of you. Especially you there, at the back, shuffling about. I want you all to sit quietly and think about what you've done.

I was expecting a better answer from you Pauld!

Diving
Petulant and argumentative players on the pitch
Poor value for money thats worse in the Premier League pricing most fans out of going to games
Players who are overpaid prima donnas
No loyalty in players
Tackling being punished so that it is becoming a non-contact sport gradually

Player power

All seater stadia
Twitter
Oxford United
Over-hyped, useless, overpaid foreign players
The Premier League
That Pompey fuckwit with the bell
That Scouse fuckwit with all the badges
Large foam hands
Face painting
People taking cameras into grounds (my personal hate)

Oh OK, then. Sky and their bastard offspring, the Premier League. How's that? :)

Less of this...

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/08_03/KeaneReferee_468x402.jpg

It's an old photo, but we're still no closer to sorting the problem.

Easy to sort out - but there is no will to do so

The lunatics are running the asylum

Well done.  I approve.  I still expected it to be more wordy, but it'll have to do.

This

Non-contact nature of tackling
Unlikeable players
Wong people in charge at the top
No beers on the terraces
No terraces
Cost (commercialisation in general)
The drift away from it being a working mans sport (not that i remember it, but I'd like it to be a little less 'replica shirt, family day out)
Franchise
Train prices for away days (or in general, it's just silly money)
Billionaire owners
Curbing goal celebrations
Music after goals
Seeing an empty Saturday schedule in the top league for TV purposes
Aiming to finish 4th to qualify for the CL
Wembley

Drums
Toure on £220k a week
John Terry
Premier League being judge and jury
FA being judge and jury
The lack of team colour goal nets
No standing
MOTD pundits
£3.40 for a bottle of beer in the DRS

...and £75 for a team strip for my lad, £75 FUCKING QUID!

All of the above.

And particularly what Ardiles mentioned - players treating the ref like a piece of shit on their luminous pink/green/orange boot.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKmWskE6Zgo&fmt18

It's not Bosnian football

Best bit is at 6.04 when they score.

money

Not enough beer and tits.

actually not enough beer and tits.

Sky Sports - the crux of all things bad

The speed and ease with which a manager can go from being seen as a tactically astute, well-loved and successful manager amongst a set of supporters to being seen as inept and clueless by the same set of people in the space of 10 games or less.

Also, the refusal amongst pundits and fans to acknowledge that luck and elements of randomness frequently have as much of an impact on results as skill, tactics and ability.

Coloured boots

Especially on a 34 year old camel like Darren Ward.

It's just not cricket

..and every other pundit.Especially failed managers like Shearer and Claridge.

When referring to the history of football only talking about the premier league era...pretty sure football started before the premier league...

A certain Mr Wesley Foderingham has a habit of doing this!

Whatever happened to the contested drop ball?

The old shin kick ball, I miss those.

Football died the day Sir Bobby did

Certainly much of the honesty in football that he stood for did

Answer: Money

The transient nature of the side. Can't build an affinity towards the players so much. Shaun Taylor, Paul Bodin, Martin Ling, Fraser Digby, Fitzroy Simpson, Colin Calderwood, John Gittens. We'll never be able to develop a rappore of that sort again.

Or am I wrong? Feel a bond with Ferry I suppose.

People (especially the media) who fail to acknowledge the good within the game and focus on the negatives, because it's easy. One of the All Blacks was sin-binned for intentionally stamping on the head of one of the Scots today. The media will largely ignore that though, with it not being football.

Peter Scudamore and the PL
Players getting booked for doing very little wrong (taking shirt off, slight mistimed challenge)
Refereeing standards
Blatter
Platini
Agents
Champions League (Bring back the knockout European Cup, Cup Winners Cup and UEFA Cup)
Teams that get knocked out of the CL, then able to go into the Europa Cup

And....money !!

Players - and managers - are transitory.

It's just us fans that get to see a club over an extended period of time.

Whoever you are, you can't escape that you're 20 years older than you were back in the days of Fraser et al.  So you're ability to develop an affinity with players is bound to be affected by that.  Your Ferry example is a good one.  (And I'd add SSP, Simon Cox and Matt Ritchie to that list, to name a few.)  I'd imagine that today's youngsters will be remembering them in 20+ years from now in the same way you or eye go misty eyed about some of those other players.  It hasn't all changed, I'm sure.

True Ardiles, guess i'm getting wistful in my old age. Proud to look back at that era when I was in my earfly teens with an immense sense of nostalgia. Duncan Shearer, Chalkie White, Ross McClaren, David Kerslake. Ooooh, the memories  :nod: Just seemed like, on average, the players stayed much longer back then, and therefore we really got a chance to take them to our hearts, without wishing to sound too slushy ;D

This.

Plus - with regard to the national game England and World Cup etc - the football feels like an after thought now - money/corporation/matchday experience bollocks.

I've gone off internationals due to what I perceive to be a lack of passion from some senior England players. Playing in European Cup or Champions League (I believe that's what it's called now) take precedence. Presumably because they earn more money..... Would love to see England put out a load of lower league lads who really really want to play for England and show some commitment and desire (might watch England more then)!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2231071/James-McClean-refuses-wear-poppy.html

Pricks like this...obviously he forgets about thousands of his countrymen who paid the ultimate for people like himself to ponce about and earn thousands every week.

He's Irish.

Sensitive issue this.  McClean is from Derry, and I wouldn't dare for one second to presume that he should feel about something like this the same way that I do.  If he doesn't have family members who were shot dead by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday, his family probably did have friends or acquaintances that were.  Who are we to dictate to him that he should wear a symbol that, like it or not, does have a strong connection to the British Army?

Live & let live, I say.  The day people start wearing poppies because they feel coerced in to doing so, the whole thing becomes meaningless.

No one has forced him....whats Derry got to do with it?

Many Derry Men who supported the IRA still paid the ultimate so people like this twat cannot even bring themself to respect those and others who died.
But coming from a man who changed allegance from North to South to play...and then abuse his manager on twitter then its no suprise is it.

Whats wrong with football :hmmm:

Roy Keane got some dreadful stick over here for wearing a poppy on a chat show.

I think it's more a case of them being fearful for the abuse they would receive if they did.

But what springs to my mind is why hasn't this been a problem in previous years on Remembrance Day

Good player though

No one should feel pressured into wearing a poppy. It's all about freedom of choice.

James McClean has no problem with working in Britain or British People. He just doesnt wish to support a British Army which has been responsible for years of hurt & misery in the City he grew up in.   

Why can some not grasp that?

Does wearing a poppy really achieve anything? Most people do it out of habit. The poor fuckers  getting killed in a senseless war now is more important imo

indeed.

ironic really isn't it?

What I find disrespectful is people using it to their advantage on social media sites. Stuff like "Retweet this to remember the fallen"

No I won't fucking retweet it you attention seeking twat. All those people didn't die just for some sad fuckers to raise their profile on twitter.  I have nothing against the ceremonies at all but the grief whoring really fucking grates at times.

Thick cunt dick fucks who happen to be talented at football thinking that they are politicians ' making a stand ' ...fuck off you thick as shit fucks...if you couldn't play football you would be changing tyres or flipping burgers.

And.....relax...

And he probably wouldn't be wearing a poppy. So the fact he is a professional footballer is irrelevant.

Back to the original question......

Not enough money filtering down to youth football

It will soon be a criminal offence not to wear a poppy.(I wear one by the way on 11/11)

i don't see the problem with prices being in line with most bars throughout the country?

Here's one, footballer's, who rose through the lower league structure, and then later make a huge financial success of themselves in the Premiership, fail to make some monetary difference to their origin club when that club which produced them falls on bad times.

Where did I mention poppies?

How are these footballers making a stand or what stand are they making? Perhaps incorrectly I thought you were referring to this Irish lad who decided against wearing a poppy.

That in itself is an issue... how people get away with charging over a £2 for a 330ml bottle of beer is ridiculous.

I think football would be a lot better with more of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6Y5xCoKunY8

The de-centralisation and over-complicating of football in order to create greater wealth for the few.

Solutions (domestic):

Create a single body to administer professional and semi-professional football.
Create a single League with 4 or 5 divisions, named Division 1, Division 2 etc.
All clubs in the League to enter cup competitions at the same time.

Solutions (European club):

European Cup to be a knockout cup competition for Division 1 winners only.
European Cup Winners' Cup to be a knockout cup competition for major cup winners only.

Solutions (International):

European Championships and World Cup qualifiers and finals to get rid of any kind of seeding.

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Love the ideas, no chance sadly.

Email Heskey....Lie-chester City....Aston Vee-yah

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/12/premier-league-tv-rights-5-bn

Everything else stems from this.

So if, as Jeremy Wray prophesised, the Championship will become Premier League Div 2, what will the impact of that be, both for clubs in and out of the top 2 leagues?

In terms of these two:

Players getting booked for doing very little wrong (taking shirt off, slight mistimed challenge) - agreed but with the shirt taking off thing they know they will get booked so why continue doing it? It makes a bit of a mockery of the idea that if they got booked for swearing at the referee they would stop doing it?

Refereeing standards - They are poor, but if the players stopped trying to cheat all the time would make their lives a little easier.

Sloop John B

Johnny Bloody Foreigner bringing his bloody foreign diving and cheating habits to the Beautiful Game and denying dear old UKaynians the chance to shine.

There may be a trace of bollocks in the above. Only a trace mind.

Too much money concentrated in the top quarter of the legue structure.

Too little money filtering down.

New grounds/ stadiums (stadia?) where the action is too far from the crowd. Atmosphere suffers as a result.

All seater staidums (stadia?).

Spineless powers that be that fail to deal with the overpaid 'stars' of the game when they behave like complete and utter cunts on and off the pitch.

Racism/ Sexism/ Homophobia- basic intolerance amongst supporters and players.

Talking the talk and then pulling up a chair and supping a beer when it is time to walk the walk (not putting the effort in when in an International shirt as opposed to a club shirt).

I could probably goo on but, I need a cup of tea and a lie down.

Meh, getartofit.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8246088/Bolton-have-revealed-the-clubs-debt-has-increased-in-the-last-financial-year

Clubs like Bolton running up debts of £136m.

Incredible that they lost £26m last season, whilst in the PL and with selling a few players for big money.

How the hell are they going to repay a £136m loan over 10 years. With the interest that will be over £14m a year.

Not enough players with moustaches, beards, mullets, comb overs or wet perms.

11 seasons in the PL have done Bolton no favours

Announced today they are £136.5m in debt!!!!

nearly as much as that yellow scum

And all these Championship clubs thinking it's the Holy Grail. Just negligence of horrific proportions that this can be allowed to happen.

Indeed, not helped with having to pay-off Coyle and pay more money to hire whatshisname.

Would love to see what the business plan is for actually paying this money back.

The business plan is to go bust and pay back non-football creditors a tiny percentage of what they actually owe.

Genius really.

You do have to think that, especially with some of the 'smaller' clubs* - the owners seem to pocket a huge slice of their new-found riches and say bollocks to it when the shit hits the fan.

*See Pompey

Not wishing to sound too jingoistic, but there's just too many foreign owners for my liking.

Say what you like about Oxford but Agent Kassam did them royally up the arse and is continuing to do so.

Unfortunately Firoz Kassam saved that club, they'd be like Darlo, Scarborough, or Chester, without him.

It's just that most of their fans are too thick to realise it...in the same way, they all want Gene Wilder out, whereas the wider football community sees he's doing a decent job, so nominate him for Manager of the Month.

Agent Kassam will hold the club back forever when they have to fork out such a huge rent per annum.

He flogged the Manor for multi millions and spent 43p building the Kassam and pocketed the difference.

He is one big albatross round their necks - putting off any sane investor

Is there a downside?

The rent isn't that much more than what we pay for the CG...when you consider, Oxford were completed screwed and only by his endeavours was the club saved, he's surely entitled to something.

Kassam provides 3 stands, a decent car park and  a well creosoted fence. By contrast SBC, were gifted the CG, doing fuck all themselves and provide fuck all for their exhorbitant rent.

Come on Reg, it's not the rent that screws Oxford over, it's the fact they don't get to keep any of the non ticket match day revenue on top of that.

STFC rent is based on turnover, so the more we earn, the more we pay and vice versa.  Hence it always been a bit over played by the SSW regime because our Revenue had declined so they were due to pay less.  It may even have been below £100k a year at one point.

Not sure that's it as Bolton have claimed pretty much all the debt is to the owner, no suggestion they're not paying any of their other bills. Just seems stupid that it isn't written off as that appears to be the only long term outcome.

In a word, money.

Yep.  Good to see big headlines today on BBC sport that Man U have reuced their debt to only £359.7 million as a result of floating on the new york stock exchange.

Thats allright then isnt it.  Makes poxfords £33m debt seem like a drop in an ocean of piss.

We are in no position to criticise though.

Surely it must be up to at least £38m by now?

They've dipped under the 33m mark by 75 pence.  They paid off some debts when they floated on the Witney stock exchange.  Timmy Mallet bought them.

Paying Lee Cox's £20k a week wages must be taking its toll on them by now?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jan/15/michael-johnson-released-manchester-city

This sums it all up - on £40k a week and hasn't played for 3 years, finally paid up. Leaving aside the obscenity of the financial side, what a waste of talent. If he hadn't had that massive pay deal too early, maybe wouldn't have thought he'd "made it" already and may have actually made something of himself. Too many stories like this because there's far too much money (most of it wasted) at the top end of English football

I remember when he first came on to the scene, he was amazing. He reminded me of a more athletic Lampard and I expected him to be the future of England's midfield - when I gave a shit.

I read about him a few months back as I suddenly thought, what happened to that ace young midfielder at Man City? only to read about how he was now a bit of a waster. Obviously we don't know the full circumstances, and it's easy to blame wages, but eh, likely his own fault, and wasn't truly cut out to get his head down and get on with it.

Those pics are just staggering.  Take two pictures of someone 5 years apart, and you'd generally expect to be able to tell it was the same person in both...even if they would have aged a little.  I simply cannot see any resemblance there.

And back to the main point...what business does any 19 year old have earning an annual salary of £2 million anyway?  It's all wrong.  How can the people involved in clubs like these actually believe in what they are doing when money like that is changing hands?

I think that you have probably hit it on the head Ardiles. My old flatmate who has contacts at Man U, told me of so many stories of astounding talents at Man Utd who have just totally wasted what they had and slowly fallen out of the game. I guess for some, once they see a massive monthly salary, they feel they don't have to work any more.

think the Guardian have deliberately chosen the picture that shows the biggest difference

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14329051

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8398890/Blue-Square-Bet-Premier-chiefs-could-discuss-Rangers-joining-the-division

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/official-who-urged-joleon-lescott-to-applaud-62-manchester-city-fans-axed-from-fa-cup-duty-8451583.html

What's wrong with football? Players/officials harassing referees to get players sent off for a pretty tame one-footed tackle! Skip straight to 53 mins 20 secs to watch it all unfold!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uupxaPRlmE

Steve Evans is such a twat. Glad we twatted them 6-0 over two games last season!

EDIT: also watch on as David 'believes he's Jesus' Prutton does absolutely nothing to stick up for his team-mates! All in it together eh lads! That's why i love McCormack, like an Irish bare-knuckle boxer fighting for his family's honour, he's straight in there everytime things get tasty!!

Players have been pissing careers up the wall, since the beginning of football....money isn't really anything to do with it.

That Crawley match summed up the whole season.....gutless.

Smith got crunched off the ball and the players did nothing....terrible season..

I did enjoy the crushing victory at Crawley last season...have that you fat crooked cunt.

To put Michael Johnson into context as well, he really was meant to be the next big thing - a la Jack Wilshere. I remember the pundits purring over him, as did Eriksson. He looked like he had twice the time on the ball than anybody around him - so City paid him the earth (sadly the going rate for a top class player to be) and gave him a long term contract.

I had no idea about what had happened since. Perhaps he knows full well his career is over (before it really started) and just enjoyed life, courtesy of some bountiful oil supplies in the east. Can you blame him?

The joke is that on seeing he'd been released, I wondered (before seeing the Greggs ad photos of him) who'd go and grab a bargain. He makes Gareth Hall look an athlete. I think we should give him a miss!

We saw how much weight Chris Martin lost under Paolo, I wonder what Johnson could achieve here?!

Notice today that Watford have just signed a player from Udinese...........on a five and a half year contract :eek:

Madness,i can see it going tits up there bringing in players on those kind of contracts.

I can't watch that, even thinking about that game makes me feel cold again.

Watford and Udinese share the same owners, so no doubt something dodgy going on there

That's definitely the coldest I've ever been whilst watching a match.

I've just read another Guardian article about Johnson. I take back my defence of him - it sounds like he has managed to throw it away rather than it purely being injury.

Sorry if it's already been said, but I think Kompany deserves some credit for this:

"No grudges against the referee, I understand the difficulty of the job,"

Regarding his (subsequently overturned) dismissal.  Although I guess this was whilst his appeal was pending so perhaps he *would* be more polite about it.

A good 4-5 stone I reckon. Which going by Martin's weight loss, about 10 weeks under Paolo. Maybe he can pull his finger out, move down south and let Paolo get him back on track. If Paolo can't, no one can.

(Much of this is tongue in cheek, before someone thinks I'm making Paolo out to be a miracle worker and jumps down my throat!)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jan/16/loic-remy-qpr-marseille-undisclosed

75k a week and he is likely to be playing Championship football next season.

Are QPR going to be the next Pompey?

Apparently he has a relegatuion release clause where he can leave on a free shuold QPR get releaged.

Im amazed.

Another good piece in the Guardian at the moment by Will Hutton.  I don't agree with everything he writes by any means, but think he makes some really good points here, particularly in relation to the comparison with German football.

Guardian: The beautiful game embodies everything that's bad about Britain (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/13/football-everything-bad-about-britain)

No surprise that Guardiola has gone to Bayern.  For so many reasons, I'd be a lot more confident about the future of German football than our own game.

going back to Michael Johnson:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/michael-johnson-reveals-mental-health-problems-which-contributed-to-end-of-manchester-city-career-8453906.html

What's wrong with football? Simple. To many fuckwits with massive egos running the game and too many fuckwits willing to pander to them.
Oh and money. Lots and lots of money.

Guardiola wouldn't last 5 minutes in England, much too thin skinned...it'll be interesting to see how he gets on at Bayern.  It's good that things are bouyant in Germany, as we know how they react to a good recession.

It will be good to see whether Guardiola is as good as everyone says he is, most people would win things with that Barca team.

Glad he hasn't gone to either Manchester club or Chelsea

Saw this in the news today. "Hit man in footie shooting": " A footballer was shot in front of 150 spectators as he warmed up for a match, Alan Jopson 27, was hit three times in the legs after the masked gunman jogged on to the pitch. Mr Jopson, who was treated in hospital was playing for amateur side Alder in Woolton Liverpool. Mersey side police confirms that the shooting was a targeted attack but added the motive was not yet known "
When I saw the headline I expected it to of happened in somewhere like Brazil not Liverpool.

Thanks for the link. Depressing but true.

I heard the tail end of an interview with the FA's David Bernstein today. The price of tickets and player wages were, according to him, down to market forces, and therefore nothing to do with him. The sooner the FA Premier League devours itself the better.

Using the Arsenal v Man City ticket price for away fans to argue about football being too expensive is complete and utter bollocks. Away fans get charged the same as home fans for the same quality seat (that Guardian article was written to give the impression this is not the case).

Plus the price wasn't that extortionate; £62 for Arsenal vs Man City at the Emirates or £25 for Swindon vs Shrewsbury at the Country Ground - it ain't the Arsenal / Man City fans that are getting screwed over.

Double plus, you can pay a lot more than £62 for a concert, play, meal, train ticket and loads of other things.

Football has traditionally been for the working man.  For fans of Arsenal, Man City and the like, it's now a middle class pursuit. 

To put it another way, you may pay £62 for a meal but I doubt many in the working classes would, especially not every Saturday.

Usually the waiting staff will thank you before you leave the premises.

You're not expected to tip the stewards though.

Rio Ferdinand took offence when he got a tip last time.

It was a highbrow establishment though.

Very true, but due to all manner of things, many people who would have grown up a generation or two ago as 'working class', now fall into the 'middle class' bracket.  Whether we like it or not, more disposable income = more expensive football.

When i was 12 years old and living at The Limes childrens home i was given 50p pocket money every week....i felt incredibly rich though i was miffed one week when i posted said 50p in the letter box with a letter!
Anyhow that 50p would get me in the match as kids rate(35p)...5p return on the bus,5p for a program and 5p for a bag of chips.
If the weather was good i would walk which either got me a battered sausage....or a few goes at the arcade in Gorse Hill......or maybe about 200 blackjacks or fruit salads.
If i ever won a few pence in the arcade it would be beans on toast in Nottons.

I have a thing about food you know.

I had my first ever froffee coffee at Nottons, happy days indeed

:thumb: Reg likes this

That bought a tear to a glass eye. Top man.

I was talking to a Brighton "fan" who lives in Bristol today. He's just had his first visit to the Amex stadium. He was telling me how great it was with the padded seats and spacious concourses. He was even raving about how the away fans area is colour coded to the away teams colours, TVs showing their teams players, goals, etc and the bar there serves the away teams local brew.

Whatever happened to giving the away team the shittest part of the ground with a drainpipe against a wall for a toilet and making it almost an intimidating, exciting experience venturing on to another teams turf ? If anything sums up what is wrong with football these days, this does.

Word...

I like being shoved into a shitty corner...makes the victory sweet and/or unites the fans in their misery..

Exeters dogshit terrace and 'write your name in piss' black wall urinal sums this up niceley.

I enjoy a shitty terrace as much as the next bloke, but that sounds great...I quite like Jennings beer, so I'll have to go and watch Carlisle play them!

This thread can be summed up quite easily.

What is wrong with football? Its a game run by corrupt cunts, played by cheating braindead cunts and those who follow it passionately tend to be sadcases with nothing better to do.

Give me cricket, golf, rugby, boxing or nigh on any other sport.

Yours,
A once passionate Town ST holder who got bored and grew out of it.

Have you gone off football by any chance?

What gave it away :)

Although I am one of those sadcases I am inclined to agree with almost all of that.

Not sure if your argument is that it's run by corrupt cunts and played by braindead cunts that boxing is the best counterexample though!

Very ordinary footballers earning more money in a week than the rest of us do in a decade.

That and diving.

It's not all rosy though over here. Lots of "crowd control" problems, specially in the lower leagues. This was from a recent Bundesliga game.

http://www.thelocal.de/sport/20130123-47495.html

Ooh, didn't realise it was such an issue over there. Hoping to go to a Hertha game in February, are they known for crowd trouble?

There have been some lower league games in the last couple of years where police presence has been in the several 100's for crowds of a few thousand. These games are predominantly between teams in the former East Germany area. I don't follow the Bundesliga that closely, but as you can read in the article there is a background of flare-throwing etc. I don't think there is actually much trouble between fans in the Bundesliga, on many occasions I've seen groups of loud (often drunk) away fans here in Munich, but never seen any scrapping etc. The same when British teams come here, Chelsea last year for instance, thousands of fans from both sides on the streets but I never saw or heard of any trouble. (The Bayern fans were under shock, millions of euros expected income lost by the bars in Munich. Plenty of Schadenfreude  :) )

As long as your match isn't between Hertha and Union Berlin you should be ok. A lot of BL games are sold out, you've probably got your tickets sorted.

You know something's gone wrong in football when even the ball-boys are rolling around like they've just been shot.

And when football players are kicking ball boys.

That ball boy deserved more than a kick in the ribs; he was blatantly lying on the ball to prevent Hazard from taking a quick throw in. I was under the impression a ball boy's job is to retrieve the ball for both teams?
If anything Swansea should be punished and the ball boy should be shot for his dramatics

This.

it's a contact sport, he should be able to dust himself down and stop being a cunt

The DFL over here making a fuss and bother about Bengalos (flares)/pyro and how they are such a problem - pathetic if you ask me.

No Hertha BSC are OK, I went there earlier in the year to watch my team and most of the time fans of both teams share the same entrance to the ground and can mingle freely

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8439699/West-Brom-forward-Peter-Odemwingie-wants-to-be-allowed-to-leave-the-club

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8471805/Wycombe-goalkeeper-Jordan-Archer-attacked-by-fan-during-1-0-win-at-Gillingham

Gillingham fans eh

I watched the Gillingham game. The summariser at half time (Matt Lawrence) was slating Gillingham's support basically saying how quiet they are.

I thought Wycombe were excellent actually and seem to have a real togetherness. Ainsworth went onto the pitch and hugged every player after the match and looked like he meant it. I fancy them for a play-off spot.

Looks like the stewards in the corner were clapping the incident!

Gillingham are a nasty club with nasty fans, they deserve all the punishment possible for this awful pitch invasion and player attack.

Note the Leeds fan in the first comment.

One little point too, the Lids fan did it in front of 28,500 fans the Gills fan in front of 4,500.

Still the media do hate Lids and rightly so!

I thought it was quite funny the way he is flying through the air.

All it needs is a loud 'wheyyyyyyyyy'

Might have been St John ambulance, happy to perhaps have something to do :)

The governing bodies. Corrupt, inept, unintelligent, badly run, or all four. Blatant favouritism creeps in too.

Watch Gillingscum completely implode and get ko'd in the play-off semi finals

No doubt they'll claim it's an isolated incident, a single fan and that the club shouldn't be punished. But it looked like a large number of Gillingham fans were applauding it. There is a nasty element at a number of clubs but for some reason the authorities seem hesitant to do anything at all about it.

If you lived down here you'd know that a large number of Gillingscum fans are complete cunts

You don't need to live there to form that opinion, just a few visits to Preistfield will tell you that.

A fan ran onto the pitch at the Coventry game tonight, Coventry player try's to trip him up and is given a 2nd yellow and sent off for kicking out . Was he supposed to of let the fan smack one of the players before anyone tried to stop him !

i saw the incident on ssn but didnt realise the player was sent off , what a joke

Seriously? That's bloody ridiculous if true (not doubting you btw NR)

But entirely according to the laws of the game.

Yeah it is but this is ' what's wrong with football "

Hence it being the rules that are wrong.  There was a clip from a Leeds Chelsea game in the 70's I think where a defender takes a fan out who came on and started dribbling with the ball, somehow the law didn't apply then.

Probably happened quite a few times since too, didn't see the other four Coventry players who grabbed the fan get booked though !

This is how to deal with it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIV_RmLkzM0

Running onto the pitch in those days used to be a laugh.

Sadly nowadays it seems only drunken Chav idiots are running on the pitch and things are more serious.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2013/02/21/huddersfield-town-faced-points-deduction-if-hull-game-not-on-sky-86081-32850056/

Fucking hell, the tail is wagging the dog there.

http://audioboo.fm/boos/1225366-ever-left-a-game-early-and-missed-the-best-bit

people who leave before the end of the game

 :D

Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan!

That's fucking nuts.

Agreed.  A real sign of the times as to what really runs football now.  Money from TV rights is the first and only priority.  How can they deduct points for this?  I know the Police generally are becoming much tougher, and not just because of security risks but because of their own financial straits, but somewhere this is all getting very, very confused.

By they I take it you mean the Football League, which is run by and for the benefit of the clubs. The clubs choose who runs it and have a say in the TV deals that are agree. If they don't like the deal they shouldn't have agreed to it. If a club doesn't keep to the deal why should they benefit from it without penalty the same as clubs that do keep to it.

Janaageisgod may have a story to tell here...

This

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21604568

Could have been a lot worse than Jed and Co chums...

Here's an owner that really understands football

Ive just booked parking at the ricoh arena for saturday.  Booking parking in advance.  Thats a sign of whats wrong with football and Im doing it.  So Im whats wrong with football.

I'd be alright with re-branding us red and calling ourselves the Swindon Spartans.

Haha I considered that.

Then I snapped out of it and will stick with the tried and tested method of turning up and looking for some industrial estate to park in

Yeah because that queueing up for an hour behind 300 cars with their drivers all inching forward until they fumble for pound coins in front of a bloke in a shed was always the highlight of any awayday........?

FIFA.

If Qatar cannot hold the WC when they are supposed to, take it away from them. I believe this was always the plan to switch it to Winter. The air conditioned indoor stadiums was always bollocks.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/07/qpr-accounts-wage-bill-spending-spree

Wherever Redknapp goes, carnage ensues!

In fairness, Mark Hughes has always been able to spend a fair bit, although Harry will have added to that.

Having seen Mr Ferdinand's reaction to the ref on Tuesday, I reckon we should trial this (not to be broadcast, although I'd love to see just what shit refs get) and let someone issue bans for inappropriate behaviour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur69HDsCSus


On the flip side, however, I'd like to see ref's being more accountable and explaining why they made certain decisions.

Would be fascinating in football but the barrier to live broadcast of swearing and verbal abuse from the current crop of top class 'professionals' in our game will be difficult to surmount for a long time yet. Even just a muted version would be good though for indicating what sort of view a referee gets of an incident, something often debated in post-match analysis.

Whenever I've seen the broadcasting of the ref's audio being broadcast discussed the consensus has always been that the swearing from players would end immediately - the top clubs would stop it as it would be far too damaging for their image and embarrassing. Though that's probably the main reason clubs would try and block it.

Would be a good move and could only be an improvement, should help reduce the abuse refs get as well.

Ha. Yeah, right.

Not a fucking chance.

Try thinking it through before reaching a conclusion.

Having players swearing at each other and the referee broadcast all over the world (they'd never be able to bleep it all) to millions of people would be highly damaging to the image of the PL, the clubs and the players themselves.

Do you really think sponsors like Aon and Emirates would be happy for their logo to be on the shirts of players screaming out non-stop expletives? They'd be terminating their deals on the spot, losing clubs millions and millions.

You try thinking it through Johnny, you're not being very practical here. Do you really think you would be able to stop them from swearing?

When somebody misses an important goal or is fouled how do you think they are going to react? Oh gosh. What a rotter

Footballers tend to be from working class backgrounds and poorly educated at that. Plus they are working in a high pressure environment where a lot is at stake and they are going to vent.

There would not be a snowball's chance in hell of stopping them from swearing. Reduce it maybe. Stop it, not a chance.

Someone posted this here a couple of months ago which seems pertinent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4ruNosLNOE

Here is what football would be like if the ref's mics were made public;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXoBNFOxlQM

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04EHwofdv3M

It's a well known fact that cricketers never use naughty words or are mean to one another

New Zealand were mean to England last night. Actually I think England were mean to themselves.

oh please,do fuck off and eat you're tofu dip at Twickenham, thank you   :baby:...swearing is an integral part of the game and long may it remain so... :cunty:

I know it's a bit off thread, but I've really taken to RU in the past few years (mostly because I can drink during the game).  It would be interesting to see a ref try and treat the players like a RU ref does in football.  It is rather amusing watching 20 stone lumps saying please and thank you Sir.  Of course the fucking swear, try having someone stamp on your head legally, but they seem to be well controlled by the refs.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/19/premier-league-championship-tv-deal# (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/19/premier-league-championship-tv-deal#)

The idea that in the future if we went up to the Championship as a newly promoted club, we'd be getting just under a 10th of the money given in parachute payments to a newly relegated club, and still be expected to compete under FFP. Fucking ridiculous.

Clubs like ours will just have no chance of progressing at that level in the future.

Fucking hell even the difference in money between this level and the next up is staggering. If we go up we will benefit from 2 million in extra revenue just from TV money.

Maybe all the facts haven't come out but I can't get my head round the latest racism claims against the England fans.

Apparently against San Marino they were singing 'build a bonfire, build a bonfire, put Rio on the top, put Anton in the middle, then burn the f****** lot'. Not a particularly nice thing to sing, extremely offensive but where is the racism?

It appears FARE (who made the complaint) base the claim of racism on the fact the song included Anton and that as he'd been involved in a racism case recently, then the song must be racist. I really don't get the logic.

Things like this can only have a negative impact on the fight against racism. No doubt it's just another person / organisation trying to make a name for themselves by getting in the middle of a racism scandal.

I can honestly say that I have only ever met 3 truly racist people in my life and guess what



They were all black with massive chips on their shoulders

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :clap:

Should this thread be re-titled "What's wrong with racism?"

Any song to the tune of 'Sloop John B' is what's wrong with football. Also the away goals rule, music after goals, birthday announcements 5 minutes from the end of an important match, the fact that sky think football started in 1992,  the transfer window, postponed matches, drums at any ground and the england band now i mention drums, Franchise, moving to a shit cliche of a bowl ground nowhere near your city centre or train station, FA cup semi finals at Wembley, the price for a meal deal at Wembley, half and half scarves, any northern ground that doesn't supply a fish and chips quality to that of Crewes, that we don't put all away fans out on the bank especially if it's a rainy cold midweek match,  any reason for supporting your club that isn't the fact that your club is/was your local club. The fact that I have to get up at 6 o'clock to ensure that I get to Doncaster promptly because Sky are fucking tosspots. Rant probably not over.

The only counter to that argument is that it's been a pretty uneven playing field for ages, and it hasn't stopped Blackpool, Swansea and Burnley getting there, and it isn't helping Blackpool and Blackburn in the league right now.

It didn't stop Norwich, Southampton, Leeds, even Manchester City dropping to the third tier.

This

Pretty much sums up the way I feel about football TM PLC in the year 2013.

I agree.

http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=51066.msg1177370#msg1177370 (http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=51066.msg1177370#msg1177370)

If you get lucky with the magic combination of teamwork and players it can work. But you do have to get lucky, and you're working to severely reduced odds made worse when the rise in parachute payments for the bigger teams is exacerbated by the restrictions (which I do support) of FFP on the smaller ones.

It's just establishing the current (rotten) financial cycle: wages keep rising meaning parachute payments have to keep rising to underwrite them meaning teams in the Prem can be more reckless and willing to gamble more money on staying up meaning the players wages keep rising etc. etc. creating a greater and greater divide between the upper and lower divisions.

The problem is tackling the symptom (we need to be able to underwrite our players high wages) but not the cause (the players wages are too high).

Millwall fans at it again, though at least they were just fighting amongst themselves this time.

How many times has this happened with their fans?

When are the authorities going to do something about it?

Sepp Blatter wallowing in his own corpulence at the end of this article makes my skin crawl.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22351630

The question is why it's taken so long. It must be around 20 years since 'How They Stole The Game' was published which is the story how Havelange used bungs to get into FIFA, and took backhanders, and nearly 40 years after he did it.

Which is more evil and corrupt? FIFA or the IOC? It'd be a close run thing

Oh god, no it wouldn't, FIFA every time. The IOC's only been corrupt since that filthy Belgian Rogge took power. FIFA's been corrupt for decades.


Because everyone in the organisation is taking huge bribes, they want to wait till one of their ex-members is about to cop it until they accuse him. Spotlight off them, people get their hate figure, and he doesn't have to suffer it for long. Boom. Problem sorted for a little bit.

You are either Juan Antonio Samaranch, or his mum. :)

Though Jack Warner has to be the most vile little weasel in world sport.

CURSES, FOILED AGAIN.

If you're referring to him opening up the IOC as a global brand billboard, instead of one that supported local businesses, it was only a matter of time before that happened. I don't think it should be that way, and don't thank him for it, but it does just seem to be the way everything goes eventually.


Fixed.

Good point, well made.

Millwall,Palace tonight...sell out and that will be very tasty.

So a 96 year old resigns having taken shitloads of money - as does an 86 year old. They don't have to repay anything either. Fuck me that'll teach them. So what happened to Texeira? But its alright as Blatter was totally exonerated and that concludes the investigation.

I couldn't think of the right place to put this, but I feel at least part of the story will belong in this thread.


From the live ticker on the BBC website. Anyone heard anything about this?

You can buy a 300 piece puzzle of Manchester United's Finance Director

http://www.amazon.co.uk/portrait-Manchester-United-Finance-Director/dp/B002113DSW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kh_5

Amazing.

The reviews are brilliant.

It's a pity the club didn't do one of Sandy Gray whilst she was here. It would've been a money spinner.

And 17.5% cheaper than other puzzles.

Clayton Fucking Donaldson

The rapist song that was aimed at him amused but also confused me... was it a case of mistaken identity??

Yes, Clayton McDonald was acquitted in the Ched Evans trial

Instead of the VAT do you get Christian Roberts

I've never understood people who have a favourite Formula One team. (They'll be dancing in the streets of Marussia Cosworth tonight) and football's become like that. It's interesting to watch the best people in the world do something they're good at, but that doesn't sustain a deep, 92 club culture of the game.

"What's wrong with football" is that Bournemouth fan on the other thread, not recognising he's irrelevant. In the same way every Man City fan, every Chelsea fan and even every QPR fan is. He's the sort of fan that leads to idiots like Venky's buying clubs.

Bournemouth's success is entirely due to Mr A.N. Other dodgy businessman laundering cash through hugely loss-making investments. The fact that they are playing football is almost beside the point. They could be Bournemouth, Burnley or Bradford. The connection between the club and the fan is irrelevant.

The only thing - literally the only thing McCoy has said that I like is that he wants the club embedded in the community. There are only a handful of clubs left that do it properly (and you could probably find reasons to exclude all of them) with a local chairman, commitment to youth and their community. Maybe Crewe, Middlesborough, Swansea, West Brom and perhaps Palace. Forest and Southampton used to be good examples, but have sold out.

</rant>

That can't possibly be true, he must've passed the FA's extensive fit-and-proper persons test so.... 

Tim Lovejoy has got a new show. Here's that book review again to aid retention of sanity:

http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/42-Media/145-no-love-no-joy

Love that article. This thread doesn't need 16 pages. It needs the words "Tim Lovejoy" and it can then be locked.

[url width=228 height=283]http://thefastertimes.com/famehype/files/2011/01/ricky_gervais_16246.jpg[/url]

He's a cock of the highest order, a 40 something old man trying to live the life of a 22 year old with the views of a blinkered pony.

Reminds me of Pat Sharp

Burnley seem to be a club that engages the local community and is punching above its weight.

Its a shame, but the community of Swindon is far removed from Burnley when it comes to buying in to the local football team.

Like most of the posters on here then really......  :D

I agree.  Just by taking a look at a map, you can see that Burnley is significantly smaller than Swindon...and yet they manage to hold their own in the Championship year after year with crowds well in excess of ours.

Another example I'd add to the list is Ipswich.  Again, smaller than Swindon.  But they are much more embedded in the local community - as their crowds and their history suggest.

17:15 kick off at Wembley today. That's what's wrong with football!

I didn't even realise it was the FA cup final today. Not sure if that says more about me or more about the lack of gravitas that the final now holds. Both probably.

I hadn't even realised it was today either. The FA Cup final should be the weekend after the league season finishes. Stupid UEFA.

Having been out in Burnley after we played Accrington, their success may be more down to a lack of anything else to do.

Surely with Blackburn and Bradford not far...oh I see your point.

There is often a comparison in relative sizes of Town's when we look at stuff like this, but isn't the problem that although Swindon has grown dramatically in size over the years most of the people that have moved in have done so to commute elsewhere and don't really have much (if any) history with the Town.

What Swindon have appeared to fail to do over the years is get the local kids hooked, and build a crowd for the future.

I don't know the actual numbers, but I've always though that it appears as if a big percentage of Town's fans come from the outlying areas rather than the Town itself.

As an ex-Stroud lad I was one of a large group growing up that started following the Town as it was our 'local' FL club. If we'd been growing up in the same area now then we would most likely have been drawn more to Cheltenham Town.

The club can be accussed of many things down the years, but not engaging with the community isn't really one of them. Most community stuff is funded by grants, therefore various STFC boards have only been too happy to sign up.

Bradford, random selection of club when referring to Burnley isn't it?

Just looked up on map, I had no idea Bradford was as close as it was (as the crow flies anyway).

I meant as places for rob (and the Burnley populous) to go out in instead of Burnley, rather than alternative teams to support

Burnley is pretty much our town centre with Broad St area surrounding it, maybe with a bit of Parks thrown in.  Not pretty.  The football must be a godsend for the local populus.

I get you now, my point stands, as I never realised if you head east from Burnley then Bradford's where you'd get to (well ish). Never associated the two that close to each other, but they are.

Andy fucking Townsend

ITV's coverage as a whole

Wigan in Europe.

By just reaching the final, they were  going to be playing in Europe anyway...

I would put this in the what's right with football thread. Unfancied, squad that cost a fraction of Man City's,  proving that sometimes it's not just about money. Well done Wigan.

46 games, the domestic cups (inc. Charity Shield) and the Europa League format.

Long ol' season ahead for Wigan if they go down.

Disagree with that, I'm the first to have a go at ITV but they got it right today.

The Subbuteo cup montage was something special.
The Whealan Cup final Leg Break story was covered well and they showed plenty of the past cup finals when the cup was more important to the nation.

Some great post match captures and best final i've seen since Liverpool v West Ham

Itv has never been the same since the ending of saint and greavsie

You say that but, without Whelan's money, Wigan would be parading little more than the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

It's a great achievement regardless because Wigan are among a collective of traditionally smaller teams who have thrived in the last decade yet have actually won a big trophy.

Swansea City: League Cup Winners - 2013
Wigan Athletic: FA Cup Winners - 2013

Here's a pointless and irrelevant stat: In 1996/97 - Wigan, Swansea, Fulham, Cardiff and Hull were all in Division 4 (Brighton were too only surviving on goal difference).

Swindon Town will get a committed, long-haul millionaire one day... Right?

I know Whelan's bankrolled the club. But you can't compare his investment with the money pumped into the top end of the premiership. I long for the day some Swindon millionaire decides to spunk all his money on us.

I think you can to an extent it's just different levels of money. There's a lot of people out there who get sanctimonious about big-time bankrolling. Personally, I also long for the day a person does that to Swindon.

If someone wants to piss away millions on a football club I'm all for it, especially as at least some of the money will filter down the leagues through transfer fees. But only if they are giving the club the money as a gift. Unfortunately pretty much all the money put in to clubs is in the form of loans and that includes Wigan. If they don't want the money back, why give it as loans?

 :doh:I'd love a Dave whelan type to sort out the shit we are in. Fair play to him and wigan

Tax efficiency.

Whalen has bank rolled them but they do a lot to be self sufficient, they have a great scouting network in south America which is where they pick a lot of their talent cheap and sell them off for large profits

Having worked in Wigan for fours years (but thankfully no longer) whilst I don't know how much Whelan does bung in each year but it must be a fair amount.  It is deep in rugby league territory and football comes a far second,  no one I worked with went to football, they were all egg chasing fans (although strangely majority were Warrington rather than Wigan fans?) Where they do seem to do well is that unless it's one of the big north west teams visiting you can normally get a ticket,  lost count of number of friends who have taken their kids to first premier game there,  so suggest that they have a large proportion of casual non alliegence fans.

Oh and on the other issue we also had an office in Burnley and it is a very deprived and depressing place,  whilst it may be geographically close to Bradford as the Crow flies its separated by the pennines which make the drive pretty but inconvenient.

"Believe"

"Keep the faith"

So does that make them good or bad? It does zero for English players and the national team that they have basically acted as some kind of cheap entry point for overseas players from "untapped markets", in South & Central America, with a fair chunk of their money to do it coming from foreign TV rights...

I suddenly feel like I am about to join UKIP after writing that.

Footballers!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22537941

But that's what the Premier League is all about. 
It has nothing to do with developing English players, and has set itself up to attract talent from across the world. The more countries having players in the PL, the wider the global spread of its brand. 
I enjoy watching PL games as a neutral but feel no affinity towards EPL clubs even when they're playing in European competitions.

Agree 100%, though I am sure the idea of it helping the national team was one of the fig leaves used for the breakaway. That and our 1990 case totally fucking up relations between the FA and Football League.

Watching the Prem does feel like watching corporate franchises slug it out, despite the pretensions of clubs (yes this means you Liverpool) to uphold some grand set of values.

Play-off final winners awarded cups and medals as if they've won some decade-long inter-galactic cup competition.

I think Wigan are playing a good game in a bad market. The only way a club with a budget like they have can succeed in the Premier League is to get a load of really talented South Americans (or other continent) who are willing to play for £5-£10k a week, with the promise that if a bigger club comes knocking after a few of seasons they'll be allowed to leave for a reasonable return. English players are notoriously expensive, and they'd have to have developed them themselves, or nabbed them before a proper club did, ala Victor Moses, both of which are very rare nowadays.

I don't think you can criticise their approach. They do everything very well and have survived a number of seasons in the top flight, way above their natural level when considering support, through shrewd managerial appointments and a fruitful scouting network. For clubs working around our level it seems attainable; I'd be happy if we adopted their approach, though maybe with a bit more youth going on. A generous benefactor also helps.

Yeovil on the brink of The Championship.

Yep, because they have over spent and have the largest budget in the league.

Muppet.

I'll be pleased if they go up instead of Brentford.  Also puts two fingers up to the clubs (including us) who've had big budgets and overpaid players and got nowhere.

The commentator said Yeovil have the smallest budget in League 1.

Them getting promoted would be what is right with football.

When the fuck did I ever say that you stupid attention seeking streak of piss?

 :girlgiggle:

If there are any pictures of Donaldson looking dejected, post them up please. Could do with a good laugh.

Whoosh...

No, not at all. Did you not see the ' :girlgiggle: ' ?

Just looking at all the empty seats at Wembley, Cant recall seeing that many empty when we played there. I know the cost is probably part of the reason and maybe piss poor support. Okay, think i just answered my own question.

Anyway Crispy. What makes you think Yeovil reaching the Championship (if they hold on) is something that is wrong with football?

I'm intrigued.

Cue load of comments about how the play offs should be held at Villa Park...

Yeovil population 40,000, Yeovil fans at Wembley 20,000

That is anything but piss poor from them

They're shite, Play-Offs are shite, Brentford should should of gone up for finishing third. And yes I did say that before we played them. I've said it every year, Play-Offs are nothing more than money spinning rubbish. How is it fair that Swindon got a chance at promotion over Brentford?

And yes, I do know we got to the Premier League via the Play-Offs when we didn't finish 1 place outside the automatic spots.

I think the playoffs should be held at the emerites or maybe villa park

Bad luck Clayton...........

There's always next season!

Dont think Harlee Dean will be sssshhing today 8)

[url width=768 height=1024]http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x480/tanswell2010/0704564948b4d4e3a3794c2d8cebde79.jpg[/url]

Twats like that in their team and the way their fans goaded us from the pitch at the end of the semi final is the exact reason I don't feel an ounce of sympathy for them.

The only slightly gutting thing is that we could have beaten Yeovil today.  They offered very little.

Thinking about his ssshhhh celebration and him sat in the changing room having lost is making me smiiiiiile.

Football clubs and fans have understood since 1986/87 that if you finish immediately outside the automatic spots then you go in to the Play-Offs.

I still like them even after Brighton, Millwall and Brentford.

:nod:

Brentford are cunts.

I have to put up with Yeovil fans insisting they're better than us on a regular basis.

There were no winners for me the moment we lost to Brentford.

I preferred the original playoffs, when the team 'just about good enough to stay up' played the teams 'not quite good enough to go up'.

I have had 7 txts from Yeovil fans (almost all my local mates are Yeovil fans) and I don't hold any grudges against them really, we beat them twice that makes us better than them :D

Let them enjoy their success, it will probably be fairly short lived but fair play for doing what they did.

Oh and Harlee Dean is a fucking cock.

flints goading of him doing the pig nose gesture in the second leg was funny.

Flint's quite funny when he starts goading. I think he might turn into the club joker now the Top Boi has gone.

Yep, of all the Brentford players he is the one who makes me happy that they fucked it up

What did Harlee Dean do?  Apart from spelling his name like a cunt.

Arsenal's over celebration of 4th place.

Beat me to it.

Totally meaningless final day of the season if you are ignore Sky's manufactured hype

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF_uOgyBK1c

Actually it sums up completely what is wrong with football.

It is more important to finish 4th in the premier League (and thus qualify for the Not Just Champions league) than it is to actually win a trophy.

It, along with the fact that Wolves start with a £20m head start on the rest of league 1 next season thanks to their parachute payment from the premier league for being shit.

Not only that, the PL were planning to have a play-off between Arse and Chelsea to see who finished THIRD at Villa Park, if they finished with the same number of points, goal diff and goal scored.

If still level, they should then go between the results between the two sides, then if it is still level, pick a neutral ground, and have a penalty shoot-out between the sides with the players who finished the previous day behind closed doors. If a penalty shoot out can decide a promotion place, it can certainly decide who finishes bloody fourth.

Why should thousands of fans pay a fair few quid to see a mostly meaningless match?

And Jonathan Douglas' superb record in play-off finals continue...

Given the choice for next season of us finishing 3rd and making the playoffs, or 7th and winning the JPT which would you go for?

Given our recent record in the play-offs, a Wembley win.

That said, if you win the play-offs you get a trophy. ;)

I guess the question should be, would you have preferred to have won the JPT this season or lose the play-offs?

I'd forgotten about that.  Anyone know why it changed?  It's also a shame they changed the away goals rule, would have seen us through to the final


He celebrated directly in front of the Swindon fans when he scored at Griffin Park goading us and telling us all to shhhhhhhhhush. 

Also he looks like a neo nazi, oh and he's best mates with John Terry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22627036

UEFA banning clubs for financial reasons but not for racism.

It would be wrong to ban a team from Europe because of racism. If it's the fans being racist play it behind closed doors, otherwise why punish a team for something that is out of their control? Debts on the other hand are the club's fault.

The ridiculous hoohah over Beckham's last game for PSG

I think I've missed it.  Are they going overboard with the adulation?  I think he seems a decent chap so I don't begrudge it really.

People I've grown up with (I live in the Welsh Valleys) openly changing the football team they 'support'. The amount of Cardiff 'fans' & new season ticket holders around here makes me fucking sick.

Urgh, I cannot understand changing allegiance.  More often than not, Swindon are dogshite but it just makes the occasional bit of success all the more enjoyable.

Who did they support before?

If they came from the valleys they probably didn't care about football, they were too busy shagging their siblings/parents/cousins/family sheep.

I'm not quite sure how and when it happened (I guess when he left England) but David Beckham has quietly and bizzarely become one of the most underrated England players of all time. Waddle's tripe the other day about not being in the top 1000 players of the Premiership era was fucking mental, the man finished second in the Balon D'or behind Rivaldo in 1999 and Zinedine Zidane described him as one of the best player he'd ever played with.

More to the point, he busted his gut for England and showed the kind of passion that we always gnash our teeth about players lacking in the three lions and dragged a shit team around for much of the late 90s/early 00s. Sure, he played on way past his prime and yes, he took a lot of easy money in LA. But he is one of the best English players in my lifetime, and no amount of jealousy about his lifestyle, wife or laughing at his lack of intelligence should overshadow that.

Totally agree Nemo.  Beckham was a game changing player who gave 100% for club and country.  There's not many people who could turn themselves from a hate figure in 1998 to what he became.

People who slag him off are quick to overlook the massive amount of work he does for charity as well.

Indeed.

Went to LA for the money and lifestyle too soon. He was only 32 when he signed for them - which in some cases can still be the peak of your career. Lampard, Scholes and Giggs have all played at the top level (at a reduced rate admittedly) well past 32.

if he'd wait till he was 35 before going out there I think more people would have understood...

Was merely saying the hoohah at Paris,for whom he played a dozen or so games,was merely celebrity related and that is one of the things that is wrong with football today.Plus,saying he is underrated is a joke,surely?Just because that half-wit Waddle made a ridiculous comment is not proof of under appreciation.Dont think anyone has ever doubted his work rate and passion for England but his pedestal has risen far too high in my opinion.However,dont think he would get in a best "Ferguson era" Man Utd X1.

.....besides,Scholes,Giggs,Lampard and Owen were far better players in my opinion.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Villa among others!!!!

:D ;D

A few years ago I did a bit of research and found that from 2000-2006 Beckham was involved in about 85% of England's goals during that period.

Staggering.

The best distributor of the ball I have ever seen 'in the flesh' was Glenn Hoddle. Some of his passes when in a Town shirt were sublime, 50- 60 yard cross field passes landing on a sixpence. Beckham was close to Hoddle in his accuracy and vision. All IMHO of course.

Agree with all of this, and unlike Chris Waddle he can actually say the word penalty!

Becks was and still is an era-defining footballer. You only get 'em once a generation.


I'd agree with you. Hoddle was slightly before my time (I was born in 1990), but the footage I've seen of the games he played and the passes he made just have my eyes boggling. Fashioned my own long-range passing technique after his. It's the grace he does it with more than anything, he doesn't seem to hoof it, he just taps it and it pings 50 yards to someone's feet. Beautiful.

Hoddle at sweeper in Div 1 was like a dad playing in an under 11s school match

I may be buying into the PR bullshit that followed Beckham, but I do admire what he tried to do when he went to LA. Admittedly it is a long process, but his arrival in the US will start to make the US league a more viable option for players rather then trotting off to Europe.

I think in years to come, it could have an impact on how competitive the league will be. Only time will tell whether it was all in vain or not.

Ahhh, the Beckham subject.

It is my opinion that he single handedly cost England 2 tournaments, and signle handedly got us in to 1. So he's in debt in my book.

Coupled with the fact he followed the money to play an appalling standard of football then bemoaned the impact it had on his international prospects, makes him a bit of a cunt in my book.

And banging the nanny is not model professionalism either.

....and had a very big hand in costing us a third

....and like many in this era got far to many cheap caps in meaningless games so that he, in my opinion, is far to high up the list of all time capped players for the influence he had .

Of course DMR you would never follow the money.....or indeed shag the nanny would you.

Maybe we should get a celibate monk into play for us and a  fella who wouldn't shag a nanny at any cost....as for costing us two tournaments :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

We wouldn't have won them in a million years with him or without him.

You have this gift DMR.......at finding the faults with everybody......will you ever get round to finding the good.

I hope so :D

Beckham had been told to fuck off by McLaren and dropped from the England squad when he decided to go to the USA.

Very true, and the genius that was Steve the brolly had such a great record of getting England to major tournaments without him ;)

Arjen Robben. Bleurgh.

Cant stand that clog wearing cunt

UEFA trophy presentations.

What's wrong with getting the captain up first...give him the trophy...and then pass it down the line...Simples.

Watford.

There is something that doesn't sit right with me when a team with 7 loan players starting (3 more on the bench) is 90 mins away from promotion.

No rules broken I know but hope Palace do them.

Whatever league they are in next season, they are going to have to start the season with about 14 players as they are under a transfer m'bargo until September.

[url width=614 height=2067]http://thesunshineroom.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bullshit-rodeo.jpg?w=614&h=2066[/url]

http://thesunshineroom.com/2013/05/30/bullshit-rodeo/

...penned by our very own David Squires.

Not you is it, iffy?

ah, no credit for me. just saw it on twitter

I like that, a lot!

he does have an account on here I think, can't recall the username though. Love his comics.

The Angry Birds Star Wars Lego Bum Poo Wee FC song had me crying with laughter.  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :cry:

Was it a song? I thought it was a name change?

It is-

And its Angry Birds Star Wars Lego Bum Poo Wee-
Angry Birds Star Wars Lego Bum Poo Wee FC -
We're by far the greatest team
The world has ever seen etc.

Sorry to nit-pick but: We're by far the greatest team
Chad has ever seen etc.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Oh yes, of course.

We're the greatest team the world has ever seen, not Angry Birds Star Wars Lego Bum Poo Wee FC  :D

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I like this one too.

[url width=614 height=805]http://thesunshineroom.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/big-screen0001.jpg?w=614&h=804[/url]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/07/06/uk-brazil-soccer-idUKBRE9650FR20130706

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23240104

Would love to see some youtube footage if there is any.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23351824

Fucking cunting morons, moronic fucking cunts.


THEN DON'T HOLD IT FUCKING QATAR YOU MORONIC, OVERPAID, BRIBE-TAKING, SEXIST, RACIST, SON OF A BITCH THUNDERCUNT

They just don't get it...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23456671

They do, they just don't give a shit. You're looking at this all wrong, you're thinking about things like the sport, the integrity of the game etc. Whereas if you looked at it from the perspective of that grinning buffoon and his fellow retreads at FIFA, you'd see those piffling matters pale into insignificance when taken from a truly global perspective. It's all about the thickness of the envelope ....

Jim Boyce can go fist himself.

I've somehow missed this wonderful, wonderful post.

Oh cheer up.

It might be nice to have the greatest spectacle in world football actually in the winter, when the players aren't absolutely fucked, even if it's achieved through FIFA idiocy.

Have the domestic leagues run along side it - let's see the Premier League put that in their pipe and smoke it.

Will be interesting to see what happens there, if the Premiership, La Liga and the Bundesliega decide that they're not going to move their season or release players, I think FIFA might discover where the power truly lies in world football.

The TV companies will have something to say about it as well

If the proposal at the beginning had been from Qatar to host it but move it to the Winter i wouldn't have a problem as everyone would have known what had to happen to give it to them.

Just think Fifa are money grabbing cunts. The Viewing figures for the world cup in the winter will be even bigger so Fifa can make even more out of selling the rights. Then once the footballing world has acknowledged it can change domestic seasons to accommodate a winter tournament does anybody think it will go back to the summer if Fifa make more money from it there?

In principle you'd rather have a global governing body with the welfare of all of football at it's core in charge than the elite leagues, who won't think twice about grinding everyone else into the dust and trousering as much cash as they can for their own benefit.

It's just a shame that the global governing body there is, is a total basket case, which is where the idea all falls down.

But I like the idea of the leagues having to wind their neck in a bit.

Yeah, agree with all that. Problem is FIFA's one of the few organisations around that can make the Leagues look like principled bodies working in the best interests of the sport.

International football has had it's day, the players are payed so much they don't give a fuck. Why bother cancel the fucking thing. Oh we can't pockets have to be lined

a winter world cup would give England it's best chance currently Imo.
Still don't like they idea mind. Corrupt fifa cunts

The last WC was a winter WC....didn't do England any favours, in fact we were worse than usual.

And winter temperatures in Qatar are probably not far from UK summer anyway.

Oh Marlon you just can't keep out of trouble!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23504807

I am looking forward to watching England in Brazil.

If the draw results in them being drawn in the North I look forward to the kick and rush approach being ruthlessly exposed once again.

I might be barking up the wrong tree here, and someone will put me right (probably PaulD) but ....

Wasnt it part of the deal that too host the world cup it had to be done in the summer months so June and July.  Hence all bids for the 2022 world cup were put togther using that criteria.

If the WC was as now seems inevitable switched to winter, could the countries who applied and were unsuccessful Australia, Japan, USA etc have a legal case against FIFA to reclaim some of the costs of bidding at the very least?

Sepp Blatter - fanny batter

You're on fire today Stan

Thought it was a bit hot!

Don't do that, it's the one aspect of the game where you can't just get a rich benefactor to buy you in a load of players from all over the globe and that people who don't actually enjoy the grind of club football can get behind.

Just leave all the power to clubs run by oligarchs busy trying to hide human rights abuses, removing billions of pounds from their national economies and so on..

Kieron Dyer:
(as opined in this quite good article http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/02/1 I pinched the above quote from) sums up quite nicely much of what's wrong with modern football.

Rebranding gone mad...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23629379

I'd hate for us to be called Swindon Robins. It just sounds tacky.

Tell Alun Rossiter that!

Bristol Slave Traders 1982 Ltd has a ring to it thuogh.

They now sound like a Rugby League team...

Stupid, tacky idea.

The rumour I have heard is that we are going to follow the lead of Brisbane and at the request of Jed be renamed the Swindon Roar.

(http://www.peninsula-reds.co.uk/forum_image-uploads/swindon_new.jpg)

Go Tigers!

Not so grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23703265

Robbie Savages' 11 transfer tips = be a cunt

I read it and couldn't decide if I admired his honesty or despised his arrogance.

If I want to move jobs, I walk into the recruiters. I often take calls from recruiters talking up new jobs, so why should football be different? The only aspect I cannot fathom is that if a player moves on, even if they have engineered it, they are paid all or part of the unexpired term of their contract. It is completely illogical.

yeah, and robins are small and fluffy. We'd be much better off as the Swindon Dinosaurs.

Go back to our roots and become the Swindon Spartans.

Why are so many clubs' nicknames birds?

FFS what's a Throstle?

It is naff in the extreme and obviously deep-rooted in the origins of many clubs.

I applaud the Hull fella - there are many clubs who could benefit from updating their nicknames.

Up the Steam!!

A thrush....when clubs originated, the mass exodus from land to city had only been going for relatively few years...therefore people still had some nostalgia for wildlife, and avian activity was still a big feature of urban living. It's been the subsequent 100 years and particularly the last 40 or so which has seen the decimation of both bird and wildlife in both countryside and city.

Urban animals, eh?

Oxford Rats, perhaps

Like it. Our mascot could be Gerard Butler in full '300' gear, with a Town shirt added. Instead of dancing in the centre circle before half time he could execute some transvestite Iranians.

 Swindon Supermarine is a decent name.

Once we go tits up and plummet down the leagues we can rename ourselves Swindon Submarine

Wasn't going from the Prem to Div 4 enough of a plummet for you?

Haven't Hull always been known as the Tigers? Seems wrong replacing AFC with it though.

Urban animals?: Swindon Hedgehogs.

Good point.

Lets do it again anyway

A baby hedgehog is called a hoglet. Not relevant, but I think it's a nice word. Actually with our current squad, maybe the Swindon Hoglets is the way forward.

I think it's pretty relevant - after all, Shaun Hoglets is our local radio reporter.
I'll get me coat..

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8883141/premier-league-west-brom-striker-retires-sky-sources-understand

Great Fantasy League pick! :(

Why is that what's wrong with football?

Think Sky are misreporting it anyway, I heard his agent died suddenly that's why he's missing this weekend's game.

Pockets a hefty signing-on fee then retires a few weeks later (if thats what he's done)

Think his agent is also his brother?

Yeah, although evidently it's not his brother who has died, but another agent called Eric Manasse.

I'm sure I read somewhere (most likely on here) that signing on fees are not paid up front but in the form of loyalty payments over time, precisely to avoid that kind of thing?

Joe Kinnear thought he had spotted a special talent on a scouting trip to Birmingham – only to be told he was ­already a NEWCASTLE player, writes Alan Oliver in the Sunday People.

Toon director of football Kinnear raved to City chiefs about midfielder Shane Ferguson during the club’s Capital One Cup tie against Swansea in September. But when he asked about signing him, Brum bosses thought he was winding them up – because Ferguson is on loan at St Andrews from Newcastle until the end of the season.

Newcastle chiefs and manager Alan Pardew, who saw his side beat Chelsea 2-0 yesterday, were said not to be aware of Kinnear’s blunder.

A City source told Sunday People Sport: “Ferguson had a particularly good game that night and Joe Kinnear told one of our officials he was interested in signing him.

“At first our guy thought he was joking but then he realised Kinnear did not know Ferguson was already a Newcastle player.”

The 22-year-old, who can play in midfield or at full-back, signed a five-year contract with Newcastle in 2011 but spent three months on loan at Birmingham last season.

Whats wrong with football...


Thats all that was needed.

Kinnear is brilliant. The gift that keeps on giving.

Why don't teams contest drop balls nowadays?

And why has Tim Howard grown a beard that makes him look like the poster boy for Al Qaeda?

Would you say that if he was white? Racist.

TBH I thought he was white!

Doesn't matter what colour he is. He does look like a terrorist though

same could be said for Ashley Williams

Racists. All of you. It makes me sick.

He actually looks like (and has for some time) Taaj Manzoor as portrayed by Matt Lucus in come fly with me....

Yeah, fucking taffs

I do like the swimming gestures the Swansea fans give the Cardiff

Makes I chuckle!

Swim away, pisses all over Cardiffs shitty ayatollah.

Was surprised a) it was a 4pm kick off and b) there were apparently no arrests. Have Cardiff finally rid themselves of their knuckle draggers. Or was the entire South Wales constabulary deployed to Cardiff today..

They had it wrapped up tighter than a nun's chuff.

All Swansea fans had to go by coach (54 of them) leaving from Swansea. So if there happened to be a Swansea fan who lived in Cardiff he/she had to go to Swansea before they could go to the game

Bizarre!

Bizarre, but it worked.

My brother saw the convoy go past. Reckoned it was like something out a movie there were so many police about.

What does that signify then? Genuine question, apologies in advance for being thick.

Swansea running some Cardiff fans into the sea

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24864223

:D

One can't help but giggle but it must be so humiliating for the poor girl. (Provided it is a girl)

Actually, we can save 'her' the humiliation of a gender test after all.....

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/jamiethon/bloke2_zps1163f2f8.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamiethon/media/bloke2_zps1163f2f8.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/jamiethon/bloke_zps00c2ff3e.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamiethon/media/bloke_zps00c2ff3e.jpg.html)

Definitely a bloke.

Maybe it's her name that gave it away - Wun Hung Lo

Looks like Sum Yung Boi to me.

Get back off your PC soapbox FFS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24879138 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24879138)

Might help the wet Tuesday night CG attendances though.

I only watch the CL and EL cos its on and I can
Already pay for sky sports so not shelling out for BT as well

Wont be much of a loss to me personally

Tis a bit shit:


Rarely find the time to watch CL anyway.

Hopefully footballs greed will see interest slide now there is even less free to air CL.

Its Intriguing though, BT are really going for sport. Can't quite see how they are making money by bundling it in broadband. Someone has to pay for the rights so I guess it is watch this space...

Makes you wonder if they will go the same way as ITV Digital a few years back

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24920893
What a terrible attitude from a chairman!

"Nobody in the world will decide for me how I run my companies''

 "No, no, no. I will not allow that. Let us establish this - nobody questions my decisions in my business."

He actually thinks it is just a business. The problem is he has lived in Hull for 45 years, so this is not just another foreign owner who doesn't understand English football. :doh:

That single quote is damning, regardless of whether you're talking about football or anything else.  No one challenges his decisions?!  He'll regret that sooner or later, for sure.

That comment definitely has a Ratner feel about it.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10816534.Police_swarm_St_Luke_s_School_over_criminal_damage/

Or maybe what's wrong with Bristol kids?

Twatty Coventry defender who decides to handball a cross with 30 seconds left when I've got a tenner at 28/1 for Coventry to win 3-2

I got a bit lucky, 18/1 fourfold and waiting on Coventry win. Had it on with betfair and cashed out on 73 mins at roughly 11/1. Was cursing the decision until the inevitable last gasp Pen.

Money grabbing agents...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25170990

Chairman of Hull doing wonders for PR

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25174266

What a thoroughly pleasant chap.

The irony is that he is likely to die quite some time before most of the people he was addressing his comments to.

It's almost as if now Al Fayed has left Football there has to be another wanker of an Egyptian businessman to replace him. Weird.

So many of these foreign owners know absolute jack about football n our country.

They should have to pass a knowledge based test before they are let loose

Audrey- Assam has lived in Hull for 40 years, he's not some foreign millionaire who couldn't point to Hull on a map. He's just a bit mental.

Didn't know that

Thought he was hull's version of the Cardiff owner

Thought the fans' campaign response was measured, dignified and well put. Everything Assem Allam wasn't, in fact.

I found myself reading this to the voice of Omar Baba from Come Fly with Me.

To be fair to the 'ull chairman he was only responding to the 'city til I die' campaign. So in keeping with the theme he said well they can die then. Just a flippant response nothing to get to bothered about, especially as Hull fans have been guilty of doing the very embarrassing Tiger style celebration. Not much sympathy with them to be honest.

To be fair, that's a bit like saying the next time we sing 'Wise Men Say' we're fair game for a Swindon Gracelands branding.  Sort of.

Not really, as singing a song isn't wrong or embarrassing. Pretending to do tiger roars, with your hands like claws is, especiallynif you're not a child.

Not a great version but you get the idea here.....



Actually this one highlights the retardness of the situation...



See post below for link.

Links don't work, Jan.  But the picture in my mind is horrific.  (We've not met Hull for a while, so I'm having to rely on imagination.)

Not working for me either - is it the 'mauled by the tigers' chant?  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Yep,  I'll try again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgS1RFk1cU8

Superb  :D

Holy shit, that is awful.  Previous comment retracted.  Hull Stripey Roary Tigers it is.

Thats just embarrassing  :clap:

Ha ha. Have to say when I saw this I did think their chairman can do whatever he likes, they've sold their soul by partaking in such a crime against humanity.  Aaargh my eyes!!!

That is one of the worst things I have ever seen.

That's the most cringeworthy thing I have ever seen in a football stadium.  Hull fans deserve everything that's coming to them.

My fucking word.

I've lost the will to live.

It's all a bit ice hockey, isn't it.

"PECKED BY THE ROBINS,YOU'RE GETTING....................."

I'm just going to pretend I never watched that clip

Slain by the Spartans...

 :D

I like you.

We could all pretend to be steam engines and make a woo woo sound. Awesomeness!

you've been railroaded by swindon  :hmmm:

That was actually mooted as an STFC celebration on here once as a celebration by the players.

That is fantastically shit

I read all you comments and then still watched the clip. I hate myself.

So did I.  Good grief!

I choo choo choose you to start it off.

Robins are actually quite aggressive birds and exceptionally territorial.

(http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/975/975962/line-o-rama-ralph-wiggum-20090423033642614-000.jpg)

good classic episode that.

I watched it twice as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The song is one thing, but the actions............

Push pineapple, grind coffee.

That I don't watch it anymore  :(

Apparently there's another similar chant where they sing, "you're going to get your fucking throats ripped out!" And they turn their heads sideways and simulate ferocious biting often with some, not in anyway camp, clawing actions.

I fucking hope Hull go bust. Cunts.

How are FIFA only just getting around to planning the World Cup draw? They are the most publically corrupt organisation going.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/03/world-cup-2014-draw-fifa-england-pots

Because they are twazzocks.

Think they've changed the rules of engagement, because apparently the draw had already been done, and news leaked through a computer hacker.  Doesn't look good even for FIFA, that the draw is stictched up.

I think this bit says it all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z08Q-z9RN0o

and on a more serious note - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2520757/Kenyan-football-fan-commits-suicide-Manchester-United-lose-Newcastle-United-Old-Trafford.html

They did the same thing not that long ago (a WC or two ago) with the European playoff draw. Original plan was to draw all the teams from a single pot, at the last minute they decided to seed the teams. Pretty certain France were involved in that as well.

That little pedestal the ball sits on before premier league games, official organised banners/those stupid big flags. If the fans can't be arsed to organise their banners/flags fucking leave it.

Were those big banners passed over the crowd at Wembley in 1990 organised by the fans or the club?     

I'm hungover and grumpy.

All flags/banners these days need a fire safety certificate. And the majority of grounds will want to see said certificate before allowing you to display your flag [ was asked for one at rovrum and colchester ~ wolves dont allow fan flags at all which is why they had those flag wavers around touchline before ko ]. Health and safety bollox gone mad
 

They did exactly the same again for the last three play-offs for either the WC or Euro Champs. They say that it will be a free draw prior to the start of the qualifiers, yet in the a few weeks before they then decide to seed the draw.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25418135

Tis only the top league in any given country that is awash with money mainly thru TV rights - only way that filters down is thru transfer fees, abolish those and many lower league clubs will no doubt go to the wall

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25457024

Malky Mackay told to resign or be sacked
Tan really is a cock

Whats Tans got to with it?

Wondered who would be first  :clap:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/10552027/Macclesfield-Town-want-ticket-price-hike-for-Sheffield-Wednesday-FA-Cup-third-round-replay.html

To be fair they are in real danger of going bust, they need every penny they can get.

Pretty sure the tickets for our tie were an increase on the usual prices they charge.

Their situation is pretty serious, don't blame them trying to squeeze every penny out of this cup run

Absolutely the right thing to do given their circumstances. Good luck to Macclesfield.

I'm pretty much certain that FIFA arranged the World Cup Draw.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/12/09/was_the_2014_world_cup_draw_fixed.html

I thought it was generally known it is rigged....more of a surprise if it was proved not to be.

Bolton £163m in debt, ye gods.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ian-herbert-bolton-wanderers-decline-revealsit-doesnt-take-overseas-proprietors-to-damage-a-club-9042669.html

Some of the wages that they are paying those players in the Championship are nothing short of obscene.

The filthy cash cow lure of the Premiership remains.

I'd have put that in the other thread. I hope they go under and I fucking hate Gartside. Couldn't happen to a nicer chap.

Thats twice today I agree with you

One more and you have to join in with one of our chants.

 

I posted it in the things that make you feel good thread. It's definitely something that's good, especially when that cunt's involved.

http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=39164.msg1245816#msg1245816

Barcelona have confirmed that Neymar's parents got £34m of the £48.6m paid for the Brazil striker in June.
The 21-year-old's former club Santos received the other £14.6m
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25887952

I dont know why but that seems a little dodgy.

South American players aren't owned by the clubs are they? It's a completely different model down there, sponsors and agents get the most of it.

If it wasn't his parents it would be some faceless agent, so at least that's something.

Man City paying £639,000 per day on wages during the 2012-2013 season, that is £233,235,000 for the season. But that does include all of the staff pay offs for Mancini & his team.

Uefa insists that top flight clubs can not play on the same night as champions league games. Obviously it's the choice of the consumer if you want to watch champions league or not. Why force a premier league club to move a game because of it.

The rule only came to light reading that Hull v Brighton Fa cup reply has to be on a Monday.

They've been doing it for years. UEFA have been holding back money from English clubs as FL games are played on CL nights.

Pathetic.

Lescott comes on for Kolarov during the Man City vs Barcelona game and immediately doubles the number of English participants out on the field.  I know that this wasn't even new news 15 years ago, but it still doesn't sit right with me.  That game just feels like one load of foreign players playing another load of foreign players.  In Manchester.

The English dimension to it is pretty flimsy at best.  I used to remember a time when I used to will English clubs on in Europe, but can't really see the point now.

Maybe losing parochialism is a good thing....find other reasons for favouring a club.

At least the game did pass Smeeton's 3rd rule, which is for any televised game, there should be at least some STFC connection, whether on pitch, sidelines, com box, or studio.

Brian Marwood?

James Milner I presume?

 I guess Milner was on the bench...but I was thinking more of Brian Kidd, who was briefly a cone carrier at the CG.  Marwood is a goodie, hadn't thought of him...

 Tonight's game will be a struggle....Arsenal are usually covered by Walcott....hopefully Glenn will be on punditry.

When was Brian Kidd out here?

Back as assistant under Macari for a little bit.

Ribery looks like most of the women in Swindon.

Refereeing.

There are many things that can held against Swindon....but the quality, diversity and willingness of its women folk isn't one of them....

Well said Reg.

With reference to a particular game? The Man City ref the other night was quite liberal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26350661

In particular - Senior players have expressed their concerns to Mel after struggling to adapt to the 50-year-old's preference for a high-tempo pressing game.

It is understood the players' preference is to adopt West Brom's usual counter-attacking style, which helped them finish eighth last season and 10th the previous term.
 

I was going to raise the same story but differently, I have been in the car for a lot of today and fivelive have been playing the story to death, but it doesn't actually seem to be based upon any defined source, just the BBC journalists interpretation/perception.

I don't see why the BBC are pushing this so hard as it almost appears like they are creating news to try and force a manager out!

CONSPIRACYYYYYY!

Well, it is Sky who have the betting company and the ability to influence betting on such things as managerial sackings through their reporting Sky Sports News.

Specific to the national team set up, but Aidy Boothroyd being put in charge of England U 20's  :headhurts:

Classy

There's a school of thought, that we're not much good at trying to play sexy football, so better to honestly stick with route 1, and try and do it properly...instead of the half baked flick fanny stuff that we get atm. Woy sort of did it in Ukraine, with Andy Carroll, but it fell down v Italy, because our most completed pass was Hart to Carroll.

You can see this argument in miniature with what is happpening at STFC atm...

Maybe Graham Taylor will be called out of retirement when Woy goes..

If they're gonig to go for Ady Boothroyd why not go the whole hog and bring in John Beck.

They have, he works at that St George's place....coaching the coaches  :) no really.

Jesus Christ! That explains everything!

Maybe the likes of Beck and Hoofroyd, have had Cooperesque Damescene conversions...after all our man was allegedly a long ball merchant before becoming a tika taka man in the summer.

He was a loathesome cunt who almost makes evans human.

You have to think it has something to do with their knowledge of getting teams to play in distinct styles or patterns, otherwise it will be like watching the 1950's Cup final's.  For anyone who has not seen this era and believes some odd hype of a bygone age, it was shit but slightly funny which is pretty much how Puskas found us probably.

The FA is a curious vessel....currently with Greg Dyke at the helm, a man who saved an early 80's TV launch by introducing Roland Rat to a wider audience. A seminal time, I don't suppose Wayne Rooney would be on £300K a week if Arthur Scargill had succeeded during the Miner's Strike..

Sol Campbell. Fuck off.

In fairness, giving the captaincy to Michael Owen was bananas. More symptomatic of the FA being incompetent than racist mind.

Diego Costa

The FA don't pick the captain, the England manager does. Which, or is it all, of the managers he played under, none of whom thought he was a suitable captain, does he think were racist(s)?

And for some of those games another black man, Paul Ince, was captain.

His post football career has dried up and he needs some publicity.

 >:( Diego Costa is great, he first came to my notice a couple of years ago when he was on loan at Rayo...seemed to fit right in with the working class spirit of the Vallecas.  One of these kids whose come out of the poor end of Brazilian street football and made something of himself by hard graft.

I particularly liked it when he turned down the Scousers in the summer, who'd met his buy out clause, because he felt a loyalty to Simeone and Atletico.

Should have had 3 pens today, but we know that Real just don't get those kind of decisions against them very often.

3 pens for 3 blatant dives? He was lucky not to get sent off

I suppose it's only natural, you'd be a supporter of Generalismo Franco's outfit  :)

Perhaps not the best word to use in the context...  :girlgiggle:

Not really been following the story much, but Birmingham Owner Carson Yeung jailed for 6 years for money laundering.  Fit and proper persons?

I can't believe that the red card in the arsenal game was not carried over to oxlade.
Because the ball was going wide of the goal his full length dive at the ball was deemed not denying a goal scoring opportunity. If you remove the confusion over who did it, it is in my eyes crazy to think that arsenal would have been given the opportunity to appeal.

Well it wasn't (denying a goal scoring opportunity). His intention was clearly to deny a goal scoring opportunity but that's not what the rule says, the rule is about what you actually do, not what your intention is. I agree it should be a red card offence to intend to deny a goal scoring opportunity as well, but it isn't currently.

i understand why it wasnt given due to the current rules. I just find it incredible.
This is the first instance I can think of where someone sent off for hand ball on the line has had it rescinded.

The area is grey enough as it is, with individual interpretation overwhat is or isn't a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Adding preceived intent, or otherwise, would only make it more complicated.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26757483

I'm a big fan of this. Orient are having a great season, just enjoy it while it lasts.

I can't believe that though they sit in 3rd place in the league they only got 3,600 for that game.

Some games will never be attractive to fans. We'd won 10 out of 11, were top of the league and entertained Dagenham on a tuesday night in 11/12, the crowd? 6839.

Attendance isn't the issue.

Orient's fans should be providing unequivocal support and nothing else. Leave the 'I told you so' stuff for May if it doesn't work out.

I remember seeing Half Man Half Biscuit when Tranmere had there half season run. Nigel Blackwell was saying that Tranny fans were singing 'we are staying up' when they were 1st and had reached that safe points tally.

That's more like it.

Keyboard wizards?

That's a new one.

Bit like pinball wizards....but I suppose there has to be a twist

Richard fucking Scudamore. It's supposed to be a sport

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26782112

"There are lots of "fans" supporters around the world who wish Manchester United were winning it again,"

yes, and plenty more who are enjoying their current downfall

What an absolute bellend.

This shows that the Premier League don't like the "smaller" teams in their competiton, and one reason why they demoted us so heavily when we first got there I feel. Its the "old boys act" after all didn't Spurs and Chelsea have similar amounts of dodgy payments as we did, but both suffered just a hand slap and a paltry (to them) fine.

And folk think FIFA is corrupt.......

Don't know what he is worried about, all their "fans" in Asia and Surrey will just start supporting Citeh anyway.

Been waiting 20 years for these cunts to collapse and I've loving every minute of their demise, long live Moyles.

City will have to change the colour of their shirts to red before they have a big following in Asia. (Having a dragon on the badge will also help).

Just ask Vinny Tan.

Scudamore was at Ashton Gate to watch the mighty Town. Saw him outside their megastore.

Mourinho's excuse for having a go at the ball boy yesterday...

'Mourinho also explained why he ran to a ball boy in injury time after the youngster failed to release the ball to Azpilicueta promptly."It is not right to educate kids to do that," said Mourinh."I went to stop [Azpilicueta]. I was afraid he would lose control of his emotions and push the kid or do something like Eden [Hazard] did last year at Swansea."I told the boy to not do that. I told him if he does this, 'one day somebody will punch you'."Hazard was sent off in a League Cup game at Swansea last season when he tried to kick a ball away from underneath a ball boy who had fallen on top of it.'

Perhaps Jose it might be better to have a word with your players and perhaps confirm that punching kids isn't really right.

The fact that the bloody media had bought into his suggestion that chelsea were some sort of lowly underdogs in the title race has been bad enough, but the fact that no one is questioning that him and his objectionable team seem to be losing the plot is as bad.

I don't know if he's really something wrong with football but he's a bit of a cunt nonetheless.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26755772

He only took over there when the publicity of the Sky TV programme about being a manager with Ron Atkinson.

After Iffy stopped them filming at Swindon they needed a replacement...so they turned to Posh.

MacAnthony saw it on TV and wanted to be part of it, the rest is history....

Maybe if Iffy had let the series run to its conclusion then he would have bought STFC and not Posh.

http://thewashbag.com/2012/06/01/hall-of-shame-14/

Totally agree. Lets face it Chelsea players are and have been role models under Mourinho. I give you John Racist Cunt Terry, Ashley fuck anything in a skirt Cole, Frank shag anything in a skirt Lampard, Obe two footed Mikel, cheating diving Ramires and I could go on. Get your own house in order Mourinho before you go slagging off young lads. The fact that he thinks his own player could slap a young lad says it all really. 

Apparently (and I mean according to Twitter, so expect him to sign a ten year contract) Sherwood is about to be sacked as he's punched a Spurs player in the face.

I'm not sure what I think about this other than "what a lemon"

Should be more of it.

My maths teacher did the same to me and I turned out OK

Think Sherwood was always going to be a stopgap, punch or no punch. The results under him haven't exactly helped.

Sign him up.

I love nut-job managers, they're fun. I wish Cooper would punch somebody in the face.

Must admit I don't follow the PL like I used to as a kid (and Canon League 1 way before that) but I watched the game earlier and I really haven't heard of at least half of the Spurs team. I thought the Fulham manager was one of those matchday sponsors too.

I remember Macari punching Foley at Fratton Park, when asked afterwards if he had hit Foley he said something along the lines of "Yes & I wish I'd hit him harder"

So your bitterness towards Chelski doesn't get the better of you?

I'm bitter towards everything and everyone

90 quid for the new England shirt if you are mental enough to buy it.

There is also another version (stadium) which is 60 quid

Sherwood v Ranger next season will be fun then

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2592727/Is-Ross-Barkley-heading-Brazil-Everton-ace-joins-Wayne-Rooney-Co-England-unveil-two-new-strips-World-Cup.html

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/30/article-0-1CB0EDB700000578-795_964x452.jpg)


It seems nobody knows who the fuck Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is :)

Is that true? Why so much? I thought it would be around £50 ish.

Well, it's got "cooling technology" innit? And it's the "ultimate" way of supporting England at the World Cup too. Well worth 90 quid of anyone's money that.

Isn't progress wonderful....that used to be called short sleeves.

What a lot of shite.

"Cooling Technology". Another way of saying "holes". I thought you'd pay less for that....

It's normal price for a replica shirt, I don't know why the media are saying otherwise. £50 for pre-order at Sports Direct, same as pretty much all of the new shirts in recent years.

£50 is still too much, obviously, but it's not newsworthy.  The "Player Issue" shirt is the £90 one, and these have always been the case too, though you can find batches of 2/3 year old player issue kit in the Nike store in the Outlet Village for £40 or so if you want a Barca/Arsenal/Man Utd/Juve etc player kit.

No no no, it's like cars, if you have a lighter one with less stuff in it it costs more.

At least you are consistent ;D

The FA has charged Ronnie Moore ( Tranmere ) for alleged multiple breaches of Rule E8(b) for misconduct in relation to betting.
The Tranmere Rovers manager has until 8 April 2014 to respond to the charges.
The Club will make no further comment at this time.

Read more at http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/moore-charged-310314-1458668.aspx#YrKLhSKesp8HB1Cc.99

Wonder if any of those games involved Tranmere - be interesting to see the punishment if found guilty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26845414

I know some may see this as 'what is good with football' 'real fans being rewarded for loyalty' blah blah blah but it's not for me.

As a football fan I am quite aware that if I travel to the other end of the country then there's every chance my team will lose and by a comfortable margin.

This has happened a fair bit recently with 6-0 type scorelines but honestly, a 3-0 loss away from home? It's getting silly now.

Norwich City have crossed that line and now we'll get fans demanding all sorts of stupid things just because they're not happy with the outcome of a game that they've chosen to go to.

*Cough*

Stones and greenhouses....


http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/24898658

...because Swindon did it doesn't mean I agree with it!

It's a nice touch I suppose but totally unnecessary as was the case when we got humped at Macclesfield

Ours was a completely different level of embarrassment, name 5 occasions when a league team has got smashed by a non-league side, by smashed I mean by more than 3 goals. It's pretty much unheard of.

Still doesn't fly with me.

It won't be long before people demand season ticket refunds for poor seasons. In fairness that's probably happened already.

The guy who chucked his season ticket on the pitch when we went 3-0 down to sheff weds on opening day always raises a smile, not sure if he got a refund though.

Anyone remember the bloke on the Town End roof that time, now that was funny

I would never expect or demand it but was quite happy to take it afte witnessing our trouncing at Macc. I took it for what it was, a gesture my the players and management. Nothing more. Sorry if that makes me what's wrong with football. :-)

You'd be stupid not to accept the refund. I just don't think clubs should make the gesture.

Have to beg to differ although I appreciate it could spiral out if control. No one should ever expect it but I appreciated the management/players wanted to make the gesture (from their own pockets). If it gets to the stage when the club starts doing it then it's more ridiculous. They all get paid a hell of a lot more than the average supporter (even at this level) and we pay to watch them. We're mugs really but I liked the fact they wanted to give something back even if it was only a token gesture.

"fathers for justice"

My original point is that, in my opinion, we've reached that point. Norwich City players are refunding fans for a 3-0 loss and that is ridiculous.

I'll tell you what's wrong with football.

Lst night I found myself actually wanting Man U to win.

Now, that just ain't right

Stone him!

Natural to root for the underdog, especially when it's against ze Germans.

I don't mind the Germans, it's Robben I detest

(http://ukvapers.org/attachment.php?aid=13011)

I wouldn't disagree with that.

I wanted Man U to win too. That's because of Ze Germans and Robben. I make no excuse and will take my punishment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26852466

Barcelonas dodgy transfers dealing resulting in a 14 month transfer ban, which they will probably be able to get round somehow and a fine of a weeks wages for Rooney.

This cant be true.  I thought Barca were footballing mother theresas.  Their football hovering above and beyond beauty, transcending the vulgar bind of commerce to produce metaphysical beauty akin to the poetry of William Blake, and the luminescence of Van Goghs greatest work.  Or you'd think that is the case if you believe the media.

Turns out they're just another dodgy corrupt footy team lubricated not by genius but by cash and dodgy business.

...and then you go and spoil it all by writing 'footy' which makes you worse than Barcelona.

:)

And don't forget their non payment of taxes on the Neymar transfer of over 12m Euros, of which 'they did nothing wrong' and their debts apparently in excess of 600m Euros, which surely are against FFP, but nobody mentions that.

Up against Real Madrid who are essentially funded by the state, the whole situation in Spanish football is so skewed to the big two it makes Scotland look like a balanced league - which will make it all the sweeter if Athletico Madrid win the title!

Actually that approach looks like a good idea, I can see certain clubs adopting that approach where they have squads of players that are all attractive to the bigger teams - sorry we cannot sell any players for 2 years!!

Actually in typing this, how does this stand with the whole restraint of trade business, player wil challenge in Euro courts and it will quietly go away.

Could've been worse, he could've said soccer :)

Using soccer as a primary term in England is a no-no but I don't have a huge issue with 'soccer', it's an old British term after all.

I work with a mad-keen American Football fan and have to use 'soccer' every now and again.

'Footy' is a term that should only used by estranged fathers trying to convince their kids that a weekend at dad's smaller-than-mum-and-Gary's-new-pad will be fun.

:D

Fully agree.

The EU are looking into Madrid for that reason, along witg Galatasaray, as they allege them receiving payments.

In the meantime there is nothing but deathly silence from UEFA.

Cannot believe only 4400 turned up to watch Posh v Colchester last night.

Great chance of cementing a play off place and a chance to welcome their JPT winners.

Should be ashamed

I can, they are the definition of tinpot.

Pretty much a derby of sorts as well

I was surprised by that as well....I guess the trip to Wembley at the weekend was expensive, and they're probably expecting a second visit in May.

yeah, only the 90 odd miles apart

67 - close enough

Preston fans getting a little worried about that fixing tomfoolery.

Ugh, I'd hate it if Swindon had players involved in all that ugly business in modern times. We've got Nile Ranger and that's enough drama :)

Having seen our last two abject performances at Deepdale I don't think they took any payments in games against us.

If anyone's gonna get involved out of our squad.....

Some of us are still trying to get over Bronco Layne, Jimmy Gauld and Jack Fountain. Don't want to think about it again...

They are charged with bribery and money laundering.

Sounds more serious than spot fixing.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/football-matches-kicking-seven-minutes-past/story-20936198-detail/story.html (http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/football-matches-kicking-seven-minutes-past/story-20936198-detail/story.html)

A very poor choice of word, surely?  :(